California water regulators impose fines for water wasters

Eighi Hiastake, of the San Francisco Dept. of Public Works, retracts a hose onto his truck after washing a city sidewalk with a mixture of water and disinfectant on Tuesday, July 15, 2014, in San Francisco. In one of the most drastic responses yet to California's drought, state regulators on Tuesday will consider fines of up to $500 a day for people who waste water on landscaping, fountains, washing vehicles and other outdoor uses. The rules would prohibit watering of landscaping to the point that runoff spills onto sidewalks or streets. Hosing down sidewalks, driveways and other hard surfaces would be prohibited, as would washing vehicles without a shut-off nozzle. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Eighi Hiastake, of the San Francisco Dept. of Public Works, washes a city sidewalk with a mixture of water and disinfectant on Tuesday, July 15, 2014, in San Francisco. In one of the most drastic responses yet to California's drought, state regulators on Tuesday will consider fines of up to $500 a day for people who waste water on landscaping, fountains, washing vehicles and other outdoor uses. The rules would prohibit watering of landscaping to the point that runoff spills onto sidewalks or streets. Hosing down sidewalks, driveways and other hard surfaces would be prohibited, as would washing vehicles without a shut-off nozzle. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

water fines

Listed are key points from the Los Angeles local water conservation ordinance, which Department of Water and Power officials say is more strict than proposed state regulations.

SPRINKLERS

Outdoor watering with sprinklers is restricted to three days a week, with different watering days for odd-numbered and even-numbered street addresses.

Odd-numbered: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Even-numbered: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Watering durations: Watering is limited to one cycle of up to eight minutes per station per watering day for typical residential systems, or two 15-minute cycles per watering day for special conservation systems.

Hours: All outdoor watering is prohibited from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ALSO PROHIBITED

Hard truth: Watering of any hard surfaces such as sidewalks, walkways, driveways or parking areas

SACRAMENTO >> California water regulators have voted to approve fines up to $500 a day for residents who waste water on lawns, landscaping and car washing.

The action on Tuesday by the State Water Quality Control Board came after its own survey showed that conservation measures to date have failed to achieve the 20 percent reduction in water use sought by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Survey results released before the 4-0 vote showed that water consumption throughout California had actually risen by 1 percent this past May compared to the same month in previous years.

The fines will apply only to wasteful outdoor watering, including hosing down hard surfaces such as sidewalks and driveways.

The rules include exemptions for public health and safety, such as allowing cities to power-wash sidewalks to get rid of human waste left by homeless people.

Cities and water districts also will have wide latitude to implement the fines as they wish starting in early August.

The numbers underscore the need for action, State Water Resources Control Board Chairwoman Felicia Marcus said.

“Not everybody in California understands how bad this drought is ... and how bad it could be,” she said. “There are communities in danger of running out of water all over the state.

The report says overall consumption jumped 1 percent, even as Brown has called for a 20 percent cutback. It corrected survey results released just a month ago that said use statewide had declined by 5 percent.

The earlier survey prompted the water board to consider the most drastic response yet to California’s drought — imposing fines on water wasters.

If fines don’t work, Marcus said the board would consider other steps, such as requiring water districts to stop leaks in their pipes, which account for an estimated 10 percent of water use, stricter landscape restrictions and encouraging water agencies to boost rates for consumers who use more than their share of water.

The increased usage noted in the report is attributable to two regions of the state: Southern California coastal communities and the far northeastern slice of the state. It was not immediately clear why consumption had increased in those areas.

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The report was based on consumption from May compared to the same month in previous years.

No region of California met Brown’s request for a 20 percent reduction, but some came closer than others. Communities that draw from the Sacramento River reduced consumption the most, by 13 percent, while those along the North Coast reduced consumption by 12 percent.

San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California cities that draw from the Colorado River decreased water use by 5 percent.

Cities and suburbs use about 20 percent of the state’s water, with about half going outdoors. Agriculture is by far the greatest water user, accounting for 75 percent of consumption in the state.

California farmers are just as guilty of using too much water as their urban neighbors, according to a separate report released Tuesday. The study by the University of California, Davis found that some farmers could see their wells run dry next year unless the state sees a wet winter.

The proposal endorsed by the state board prohibit the watering of landscaping to the point that runoff spills onto sidewalks or streets. Hosing down sidewalks, driveways and other hard surfaces would be banned in most cases, along with washing vehicles without a shut-off nozzle.

Violations would be infractions punishable by fines, although most cities are likely to have a sliding scale that starts with a warning and increases for repeat violations.

The report estimates that the proposed restrictions could save enough water statewide to supply more than 3.5 million people for a year.

At the hearing on Tuesday, some water managers told the board the fines would unnecessarily punish customers that already have reduced consumption.

Mark Madison, general manager of the Elk Grove Water District south of Sacramento, said residents in his district have cut water use by more than 18 percent since last year.

“What you’re asking me to do right now is to thank them with a sledgehammer,” he told the board.